Barack Obama's campaign is thinking of having the Democratic presidential candidate give his presidential nomination acceptance speech at a football stadium rather than in the arena in Denver, Colorado, where the Democratic National Convention is being held.

CNN has confirmed that discussions are underway between the campaign and Denver's convention organizing committee to move the senator from Illinois' acceptance speech from the Pepsi Center, a basketball and hockey arena which seats around 20,000 people, to Invesco Field at Mile High. The football stadium where the Denver Broncos play can seat around 75,000 people.

A bigger crowd could make for a more compelling picture and image.

One problem could be the weather. The stadium is open aired, and susceptible to afternoon and evening summer thunderstorms, while the arena is closed to the elements.

The story was first reported in the Los Angeles Times and by the Associated Press.

Obama campaign spokeswoman Shannon Gilson told the AP that no decisions have been made.

The Democrats' presidential nominating convention is scheduled to open on Monday August 25 and close with Obama's acceptance speech on Thursday, August 28.

soundoff(288 Responses)

If they sold tickets at $50 for general admission, it would helyp toward paying the expenses of the convention.

I'd certainly would want to go and see this historic moment. I would definitely pay to see what will become one of the great political speeches of our era.

To heck with the weather. Most of the time it's beautiful here in the Mile High City.

July 4, 2008 01:01 pm at 1:01 pm |

Obama or bust

All you have to do is look at the post here to realize raceism is alive and well in this country. If you don't like Obama because of his positions thats fine, but if your read these post it's clear that most don't like him because of his race. SAD!!!!!

July 4, 2008 01:02 pm at 1:02 pm |

Nick, Rochester, NY

Reminds me of that other megalomaniac who used the olympic stadium in Berlin...

July 4, 2008 01:02 pm at 1:02 pm |

mitchell hussein martin

alice,you are a disgusting excuse for a human being.your racist blathering shows how ignorant you truly are.keep it up!we love reading idiotic comments with no merit or truth.

July 4, 2008 01:03 pm at 1:03 pm |

sarah, mississipi

i'm 73 year old white woman from mississipi and

i've voted republican all my life.

this year, i'm changing horses and vote for Barr!

maybe Barr and Mccain will form a coalition government of some sort.

July 4, 2008 01:04 pm at 1:04 pm |

Enough Already!

It amazes me at how the majority of people above consider those of us who wish to see a position of substance from this guy, HATERS. Has this nation become so mindless that glitz and glamour decide who we vote for. Obama, regardless of his skin color (for those above who think that anyone who doesn't vote for him is racist) gives you rock bands, football stadiums, an entourage fit for a Hollywood action star, et all. Why doesn't he give us HATERS what we want, a clear, concise, and consistent position with an explanation on how he intends to accomplish his goals. For crying out loud, we are his boss and he is applying for a job. If all it takes to get the job of President of the USA, is an affinity to sports and a smile, count me in. And for all the projectionists, Nader's running mate is a Latino.

July 4, 2008 01:05 pm at 1:05 pm |

Texas Trail Dog

WORST PERSON – HOW DID YOU KNOW OLD BRIAN FROM TN WE IS FIRST COUSINS. AND BOY DO WE HAVE YOUR MAN PEGGED DON'T WE. IT LOOKS LIKE YOU GUYS COULD COME UP WITH GENERAL POWELL TO LAY YOUR HOPES ON. THEN AMERICA WOULD BE A MUCH BETTER PLACE. GEN. POWELL IS A MAN TO RIDE THE RIVER WITH. BUT BRIAN AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND ALL THIS HOOP CRAP YOU PEOPLE ARE MAKING OVER OBAMA. HE HAS SHOWED HIS TRUE COLORS IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS AND THAT'S NOT BLACK. YET YOU PEOPLE STILL FOLLOW HIM. IT SIMPLY HAS TO BE BECAUSE HE'S BLACK AND THA'S ALL YOU'RE LOOKING AT. WHY DON'T YOU STOP THE RUSH AND THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING BEFORE YOU KEEP CHARGING ON AND NOT KNOWING WHAT THIS MAN REALLY STANDS FOR. AND TO THINK YOU CALL ME AND OLD BRIAN THE RACIST. GET IT THROUGH YOUR HEADS WHY WE DON'T LIKE OBAMA. I PERSONALLY DON'T CARE WHAT COLOR HE IS. PAINT HIM RED WHITE AND BLUE AND YOU WILL STILL NOT COME UP WITH AN HONEST PERSON HERE IN THIS MAN. HE IS A LIAR, CORRUPT(REZKO), ANTI-CHRISTIAN(WRIGHT), ANTI-AMERICA(TRINITY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST). TERRORIST SUPPORTER(GAVE A KNOW TERRORIST A JOB IN HIS IL STATE SENATOR CAMPAIGN). CONTRADICTS HIMSELF. IS A TURN COAT. YES HE IS A LEADER OF CHANGE ALRIGHT BUT NOT FOR THE GOOD OF AMERICA. KEEP FOLLOWING HIM LIKE A LITTLE BLIND PUPPY.

July 4, 2008 01:05 pm at 1:05 pm |

Mike in NYC

Mama4Obama wrote:

"Like I said before, I hear Canada is very nice!"

Actually, Canadians worship "minorities" even more than Americans do.

Plus, you can be fined/go to jail there if you hurt their feelings.

Could be America before long.

TX IS THE NEW IRAQ wrote:

"Bombs away, redneck scum!"

More anti-racist racism from a morally superior person.

July 4, 2008 01:06 pm at 1:06 pm |

THE TRUTH IS!!!!!

justin.............. It's a shame that Disappointed Dem's supersize ego can't understand the magnitude of this unique moment in American history. Maybe he/she should read a history book.........

MAYBE you should take the History BOOK in the RESTroom with you ........and make HISTORY ........ you will be there a LOOOOONG Time.....CUZ YOU are FULL OF SH_T!!!!

CNN Plz POST ......-U- post texas trail DOG

July 4, 2008 01:06 pm at 1:06 pm |

Oreo

DemConWatch broke the story. Not the AP and not the LA Times. A blog did it and as usual CNN is ignoring it.

July 4, 2008 01:06 pm at 1:06 pm |

deborah jean palfrey, DC

hey y'all.

my whole family is die-hard republican, but there's no way we're gonna vote for john "amnesty'" mccain for our president!

we'll most likely sit this election out and work for the next one.

July 4, 2008 01:07 pm at 1:07 pm |

Nick

Yeah, Alive in Florida, you sound REAL happy. All that bitterness inside has poisoned your mind and soul.

July 4, 2008 01:08 pm at 1:08 pm |

Shannon

good choice, this is all a game to him, so his play book of do or say anything to win fits in with the sports stadium mentality. I agree with a previous post, I don't think a stadium is big enough to hold Mr. Obama's ego.

July 4, 2008 01:08 pm at 1:08 pm |

saga4obama

here we go again CNN posting all those Obama haters...yet still no story of McCains involvement with the tragedy of the USS Forrestestal in 1967 killing 134 men and wounding 161. still no questions regarding how patriotic it was for that man to be in Latin America during the 4 weekend, still nothing said about McCains big oil lobbyist who run his campaign, and make no mistake THEY are running it Not him...
at least Obama thinks for the people...he knows that he IS going to need a huge space for all of us that are apart of the "stop the madness" movement
you haters only make us stronger...you let us see the UGLY of America, giving us fuel to fight and change. you are the pimple on the face of our country!!!
DUMPMCCAIN.COM

July 4, 2008 01:09 pm at 1:09 pm |

Kevin

I would recommend a football stadium that could take over 100,000 persons.

July 4, 2008 01:10 pm at 1:10 pm |

HG

The Republicans wish can they can fill a stadium like this. The best they can do is reitirement homes and playgrounds. Its such a JOKE to see what the Republican brand has come to. Tom Davis is right if they were dog food it wouldnt even be put on the shelf.

July 4, 2008 01:12 pm at 1:12 pm |

nnate, OH

The negative comments do not make sense at all. Holding the Democratic National Convention in a place more open to the public does not imply elitism, but accountability. It is refreshing to have a candidate unrestrained by tradition.

July 4, 2008 01:13 pm at 1:13 pm |

Ken

This is so stupid! Who does Obama think he is? Obamam has lied, flip-flopped, backed out of public finance, now changing his stance on bringing our troops home from Iraq!

Obama must think that he is the second coming! What a joke! I hope that the weather changes to the worse and pours down rain, snow and a thunder storm that could strike him with lighting.

I can not believe that there are so many "Blind People" following this liar! Obama will tell the American people what ever they want to hear, just as long as it can get him elected. Mark my words, if Obama is elected, what him change his stance to prove that all he is is just another politician that we say whatever to the American people to vote for him. What a shame!

NO WE CAN NOT!!!!

July 4, 2008 01:13 pm at 1:13 pm |

jon

Pretty amazing how many sheep, keep repeating the refrain, "Obama has no policy ideas... he's all about image."
Obviously, if one bases their opinion on Fox News, or soundbites, he has no policy ideas.
But for the rest of us, we can go to his website, or just listen to his many policy speeches, for answers... rather than following what we're told to think.

July 4, 2008 01:13 pm at 1:13 pm |

Harry

World peace,wealth creation,environmental issues, restoring human dignity and pride will not be achieved through the colour of ones skin or ethnic origin. But through a will and desire of all peoples to 'emancipate ourselves from mental slavery, non but ourslves can free our minds' (Marcus Mosiah Garvey)
Senator Barak Obama is correct, 'Change we can believe in'.
And change we must. We cannot keep doing the same things the same old way and expect better or different result.

Right on and ride on President Barak Obama. You did not choose your parents or your name. The sun shines on all of us and so does the rain fall for all of us. Blessings.

Harry
Kingston, Jamaica

July 4, 2008 01:14 pm at 1:14 pm |

nick CA.

obama lovers are so sensitive to any critique of any aspect of his position or posture. Not everyone believes he is the perfect candidate.
This blog is full of commentators that believe that the man is the second coming of the greatest American. Some of us see a lack of record behind a dynamic speaker. So don't hate if some of us expect more out of a man who may become the leader of our great country.

July 4, 2008 01:14 pm at 1:14 pm |

Dave

You have to be kidding me! STAY OUT OF OPEN FEILD BARACK please
Obama 2008!

July 4, 2008 01:14 pm at 1:14 pm |

Lindsey

*sigh* honestly the media circus has already made Obama the most visible candidate out there... look at CNN's political stories. There is not one legitimate news company out there that can give fair and balanced coverage, because no one would watch the news then.

With that being said, the three most visible candidates this entire election (McCain, Clinton, and Obama) I would not have given these candidates the time of day to run my country if i was a founding father of this country... McCain wants an endless war, Clinton was very unlikeable, and Obama has proven himself to be a flip flopper, and surrounded by some of the worst characters that have been dug up in a campaign. With the democratic controlled congress, if the president were to end up being the most liberal person in congress (which happens to be Obama) there would be no compromise. That's the entire reason why he's being pushed is to push the democratic agenda of more taxes, more spending, and more special interests.

July 4, 2008 01:15 pm at 1:15 pm |

Easy

I want to go.

Imagine if it was outdoors. I predict 100,000 would show up.

Obama 08

Haters never prosper

July 4, 2008 01:15 pm at 1:15 pm |

DisgruntledDem

Johnboy, don't you read? He has already won the presidental nomination for the democratic party. He is formally accepting the nomination at the convention. Scary that people who are so unitelligent are voting.

----

@Lorna – You're the one who's incorrect. Obama remains the PRESUMPTIVE nominee. Nothing is official until the states' roll call (or whatever they call that) at the convention.